Trip from Newport News, VA to Altavista, VA

Drive Time

4h 15m

Distance

195.5 mi

315 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Mikkel Kvist

Trip Overview

Traveling from Newport News to Altavista covers 195.5 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes. Because this is a single-day trip, you can easily complete it in one sitting, though building in at least one stop will make the journey more comfortable. You should budget approximately $31 for fuel to cover the distance across Virginia. The route transitions from the coastal Southeast region toward the central part of the state, offering a steady change in scenery. It is a straightforward drive that works well for a weekend getaway or a necessary transit, provided you plan for the moderate duration behind the wheel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

97.7 miles from Newport News, VA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip features a mixed driving profile, beginning with faster interstate travel before shifting to regional highways. You will spend roughly 45% of your time on highways, with a significant 64.7-mile stretch on I-64 representing your longest uninterrupted segment. After leaving the interstate, the character of the road changes as you navigate onto Anderson Highway and Village Highway. Expect a transition from high-speed, multi-lane transit to a more localized driving experience as you head inland. The variation between these road types keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous grind.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 195.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles (US 360; US 60 ALT / South 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 33 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond

66.3 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in

Take the exit toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 193A Toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road

69.3 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | US 360; US 60 ALT / South 14th Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 360; US 60 ALT / South 14th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.

72.2 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | VA 146

Keep slight left at fork onto VA 146 toward Powhite Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Powhite Parkway

78.2 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, Midloth...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Newport News, VA to Altavista, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Midlothian along the way.

Midlothian

78.2 mi in | ~1h 34m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 64	64.7 mi	1h 11m
Anderson Highway	36.7 mi	48m
Village Highway	10.4 mi	19m
Old Courthouse Road	10 mi	11m
Midlothian Turnpike	9.9 mi	16m
Wards Road	9.1 mi	11m
Richmond Highway	8.6 mi	10m
Mount Rush Highway	8.6 mi	9m

Longest stretch: I 64 — 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Newport News, VA and Altavista, VA.

Start on this road

82 ft · 12 sec · this road

Turn left

413 ft · 31 sec

At end of road, turn right onto Thimble Shoals Boulevard

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Thimble Shoals Boulevard

Turn left onto Diligence Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Diligence Drive

Turn left onto US 17

0.7 mi · 1 min · J Clyde Morris Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 17

168 ft · 10 sec · J Clyde Morris Boulevard

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 64 West: Williamsburg, Richmond

Merge onto I 64

65 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 64

Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 193A Toward VA 33 West: Nine Mile Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto VA 33

1.0 mi · 1 min · Nine Mile Road

Enter roundabout onto North 25th Street

148 ft · 2 sec · North 25th Street

Continue on North 25th Street

0.5 mi · 48 sec · North 25th Street

Enter roundabout onto North 25th Street

100 ft · 2 sec · North 25th Street

Continue on North 25th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North 25th Street

Turn right onto US 60

0.3 mi · 29 sec · East Main Street

Turn left onto South 21st Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South 21st Street

At end of road, turn right onto Dock Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Dock Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 360; US 60 ALT

306 ft · 12 sec · South 14th Street

Use the left / right lanes.

Turn left onto East Canal Street

0.2 mi · 36 sec · East Canal Street

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward VA 195 Toll West

Merge onto VA 195

2.5 mi · 3 min · Downtown Expressway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto VA 146

1.1 mi · 1 min · VA 146

Toward Powhite Parkway Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto VA 76

1.0 mi · 1 min · Powhite Parkway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto VA 76

1.0 mi · 1 min · E-ZPass Only (Powhite Parkway)

Merge onto VA 76

2.5 mi · 3 min · Powhite Parkway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward US 60: Midlothian Turnpike Use the slight right lane.

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · this road

Toward US 60: Midlothian Turnpike

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto US 60

9.9 mi · 16 min · Midlothian Turnpike

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 60

37 mi · 48 min · Anderson Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 60

8.1 mi · 9 min · East James Anderson Highway

Continue on US 60

7.8 mi · 9 min · West James Anderson Highway

Turn slight left onto VA 24

8.6 mi · 9 min · Mount Rush Highway

Continue on VA 24

10 mi · 11 min · Old Courthouse Road

Take the exit onto VA 24

0.2 mi · 29 sec · VA 24

Toward US 460 West, VA 24 West

Merge onto US 460; VA 24

8.6 mi · 10 min · Richmond Highway

Turn left onto VA 24

1.2 mi · 2 min · Village Highway

Enter roundabout onto VA 24

112 ft · 2 sec · Village Highway

Continue on VA 24

9.2 mi · 17 min · Village Highway

Take the exit onto VA 24

4.3 mi · 7 min · VA 24

Turn left onto US 29

9.1 mi · 11 min · Wards Road

Take the exit onto US 29 BUS

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 29 BUS

Toward US 29 Business South

Turn left onto US 29 BUS

2.0 mi · 3 min · Main Street

Turn right onto 7th Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · 7th Street

Turn left onto Franklin Avenue

364 ft · 17 sec · Franklin Avenue

Turn left onto US 29 BUS

30 ft · 1 sec · Main Street

Arrive at destination

US 29 BUS

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 4-hour and 15-minute journey, try to time your departure to avoid heavy congestion near the Newport News area. Since you only have one recommended stop, consider breaking up the drive once you transition off I-64 to stretch your legs before tackling the secondary highways. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the final, more rural stretches of the route to ensure you don't run low far from a service station. Because the total distance is under 200 miles, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic or personal preference. Prioritize a steady rhythm during the initial interstate portion to ensure you arrive in Altavista feeling refreshed.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 97.7 miles from Newport News, VA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 97.7 miles or 2h 3m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altavista, VA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Newport News, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Newport News, VA

This is one driving day of about 195.5 miles and 4h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Newport News, VA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 64.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 97.7 mi from Newport News, VA · 2h 3m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middletown, MD

98 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Middletown, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middletown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 97.7 miles from Newport News, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.7 miles.

Arriving in Altavista, VA

The final approach into Altavista, VA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Altavista, VA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.29 one way

$62.58 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 68 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$34.09	$68.18
premium	$4.78	$36.78	$73.55
diesel	$5.64	$43.43	$86.87

Estimated Tolls: $0.69

Midlothian Turnpike (9.9 mi) $0.69

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 68.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	58.7	$20.53	$9.38
Efficient EV	48.9	$17.11	$7.82
EV Truck/SUV	78.2	$27.37	$12.51

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Newport News, VA

Afternoon in Newport News on Sunday

Local time

2:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altavista, VA

Afternoon in Altavista on Sunday

Local time

2:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

92°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Middletown, MD

98 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

25 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 15m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Newport News, VA to Altavista, VA covers 195.5 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 64, Anderson Highway, Village Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 97.7 miles from Newport News, VA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Newport News, VA to Altavista, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Midlothian along the way.

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Trip from Newport News, VA to Altavista, VA

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Altavista, VA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Newport News, VA

Altavista, VA

Same local time

25 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 15m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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